Page 31 of Broken

Seventeen

MELANIE

Iwatch my sister curl a lock of my hair between her fingers in the mirror, and we both stare at my reflection. Her green eyes, so similar to mine, twinkle with happiness. “You look so pretty, Mel.”

I blow out a breath and glance down at my simple cream dress. “Thanks, Ash.”

She takes a sip of her champagne and giggles. “And Nathan is so handsome.”

“He is,” I admit.

“His brothers too.” She wraps an arm around my waist and rests her head on my shoulder. “Dad would be so proud to walk you down the aisle, you know?”

I place my hand over hers and smile at the image of my father in his tux that I conjure in my mind’s eye. I haven’t told my sister about the contract between Nathan and me. As far as she’s concerned, we had a whirlwind romance and couldn’t wait another day to get married. I couldn’t burden her with the knowledge that our family business is in so much trouble.Perhaps I baby her, but I love her so much, and she deserves all the opportunities our father would have wanted for her.

“Are you sad Ty’s not here?” she asks, breaking my train of thought.

I shove aside a twinge of sorrow and keep my tone bright. “Yeah, but I’ll see him in a few weeks. And you’re videoing the whole thing to send him, right?”

“Of course.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t.”

I laugh, but she doesn’t join in. Instead she spins me around to face her. “Do you love him, Mel?”

“Yes.” I lie with ease. Or perhaps I’m not lying. I know that I could love him if I let myself fall.

Her brow furrows. “Just know that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want. You’re the best person I know, and nothing you do could change how much I love you.”

I blink at her. Does my baby sister suspect that this isn’t the fairytale I’ve tried to portray? Of course she does. She knows me and she isn’t stupid. I take her hand in mine. “I do want to do this, Ash.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” I nod, and I realize I’m not lying this time. “And I love you too.”

She downs the last of her champagne and wraps me in a hug. “I’m gonna need to hold on to you for at least another five minutes before we go out there and you become Mrs. Nathan James.”

“I’ll always be your Mel.”

“Always, sis.”

Dalton James handsme a glass of Scotch as he sidles up beside me. “Here, you look like you could use one of these.”

I offer him a grateful smile. “I sure could. Thanks.”

“There’s no need to be nervous. Nathan is a good man. He’ll take care of you, and you two will have fine babies.”

I look up into my soon-to-be father-in-law’s gray eyes. There’s a hint of sadness in them, but they’re kind too. And suddenly there’s a lump in my throat. “I wish my dad was here.”

He nods stiffly and takes a sip of his Scotch. “Your father was a good man, Miss Edison.”

“Please call me Mel,” I insist.

He nods. “He would be proud of you, Mel.”

Tears prick at my eyes. I’m not convinced that’s true. What would he think of me marrying Nathan just to secure the success of the business and protect Ashley’s future? Despite my intentions, I’m sure he’d try to talk me out of it. I can almost hear him:Don’t make the same mistakes I did, baby girl. Life is too short not to fall in love.

“Welcome to the family, Mel,” Dalton says, raising his glass in a toast.

“Thank you.” I down the Scotch in one gulp, wincing as it burns my esophagus.

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